IJFANS International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences

ISSN PRINT 2319 1775 Online 2320-7876

Water and sanitation: struggle of rural households at Tinzir village of Namchi, south Sikkim

Main Article Content

Dr. Ajay Chhetri

Abstract

Increasing access to improved and sustainable water supply and sanitation services is vital to developing human capital to unleash the growth potential of rural areas. In spite of of adequate fresh water, globally millions of people have to lose their life from disease associated with inadequate water supply and unfortunate status of sanitation and hygiene, mostly affected are the infants. According to UN each day 1,000 children die due to preventable water and sanitation related diseases. Beside health, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation might negatively affect educational opportunity of a child. A universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene can be maintained if the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water and sanitation are accomplished. Although the Central and State Government of India have been flagging wide range of programs to increase access to piped water supply and reduce open defection, with a specific focus on strengthening institutions, building capacity, and employing community-based participatory approaches but not much difference is visible on ground specially in regards to Clean and safe drinking water accessibility in most of the rural areas of our country. The study examines the water supply systems, and future of water management in some rural flanks of the south district, Namchi. The research was centred on issue of demand and supply, water and scarcity and stress water governance and sustainable conservation and management of water resources in a climatic change context and methodologically based on household surveys questionaries, focus group discussions. Present study reveals that the study area suffers from the lack of an adequate reservoir facilities and frequent damage of water supply pipe during the monsoon and some of the Boomtar Revenue circle area of Namchi faces acute water storage all year round. The people of the Namchi faces supply of declining water discharge in springs sources, the lack of water infrastructure for repair, maintenance, and supply, and the glaring inequity between the higher middle- and lower-income groups are the immediate issue around water in Namchi.

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